PRESS RELEASE

26 June 2006
Cheshire Wildlife Trust welcomes the return of the river King

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is cautiously welcoming the return of otter populations to the region. Thanks in part to the conservation work undertaken by the Trust, otters are gradually appearing more frequently throughout Cheshire’s waterways.

Evidence of the shy and endearing Eurasian Otter is now being found in areas where their presence has not been recorded for many years. Evidence is particularly strong along the main river catchments in Cheshire and Wirral, with the River Weaver around Nantwich, the River Gowy and the River Dee particularly active otter areas.

Since 1994, much conservation effort in Cheshire has been directed at restoring otter populations. Between 1994 and 2001, as part of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Otters and Rivers Project, extensive otter survey work was carried out as well the building of artificial otter holts at a number of sites along Cheshire’s waterways.

The Trust are about to embark upon an innovative project to monitor otter activity using remote-controlled, infra-red video cameras, which will be installed on secure sites where recent signs of otters have been found. The project will also help to raise awareness of the otter, which is native to the UK and where it is afforded complete statutory protection due to its scarce status. Given the extremely secretive nature of otters, video footage obtained by the project will offer many more people the chance to see Cheshire otters up close and potentially online.

Angie Gooderham, Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Acting Head of Conservation, comments, “It is vital that we continue to improve conditions for otters over the coming years, particularly if we want to see healthy breeding populations locally. The gradual return of the Otter shows us that with careful planning and an environmental commitment we can turn around the fortunes of our wildlife.”

At over one metre in length and about 10kg in weight, the otter is Britain’s largest carnivore. With webbed feet, rudder-like tail and dense, water-resistant pelt, the otter is well equipped for swimming and hunting in water. It feeds mainly on fish, requiring about 1kg of food a day.

If you would like to get involved in otter conservation work in Cheshire or Wirral please contact Angie at Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01270 610180.


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